Patents by Inventor John Rutherford

John Rutherford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080036846
    Abstract: A method for making an animal identification label. The method includes the steps of heating a surface of the label to thereby create a gloss surface thereon. Indicia marking and/or printing is then applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Donald Hopkins, John Rutherford
  • Publication number: 20060192397
    Abstract: An electric rim strike including a housing having a cavity defined therein; a pivotally rotatable keeper having a front blocking face; a pivotally rotatable locking bar having a rear blocking face; and an actuating mechanism that selectively pivots the locking bar. The keeper, locking bar, and actuating mechanism are disposed within the cavity of the housing. The actuating mechanism being operationally connected to the locking bar and driving the locking bar and the keeper from a first state to a second state. The rear blocking face of the locking bar opposes the front blocking face of the keeper to prevent the locking bar and keeper from freely rotating relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Schnarr, John Rutherford
  • Patent number: 6309530
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods, systems and installations for concentrating depleted brine produced by the electrolytic decomposition of concentrated brine in chlor-alkali membrane cells and to the efficient use of power, steam and brine. More particularly, this invention relates to the use of depleted brine directly into evaporation systems, which are used to concentrate the brine for reuse in membrane cells or other processes. This invention employs the phenomena that a week unsaturated brine boiling under reduced pressure has a lower boiling point rise (BPR) than a saturated brine boiling at the same or higher pressure. The concentration of depleted brine at a lower boiling point rise improves the operating efficiency of either mechanical vapor recompression and/or steam jet thermocompression. Further, this invention allows for concentrating the depleted brine at temperatures low enough to utilize plastic materials of construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Brine Company, LLC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Rutherford, John Rutherford
  • Patent number: 5126019
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for purifying brine for electrolysis in chlor-alkali cells, especially membrane cells by reducing the sulfate ion concentration, while at the same time minimizing the concentration of other undesireable ions such as calcium and chlorate. The methods and systems employed are unique combinations of refrigeration and crystalization, and brine recirculation techniques in the systems for electrolyzing brine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Texas Brine Corporation
    Inventors: John Rutherford, Raymond W. Ver Hoeve
  • Patent number: 5028302
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for purifying brine for electrolysis in chlor-alkali cells, especially membrane cells by reducing the sulfate ion concentration, while at the same time minimizing the concentration of other undesireable ions such as calcium and chlorate. The methods and systems employed are unique combinations of refrigeration and crystallization, and brine recirculation techniques in the systems for electrolyzing brine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Texas Brine Corporation
    Inventors: John Rutherford, Raymond W. Ver Hove Hoeue
  • Patent number: 4596490
    Abstract: This invention relates to a new and novel method for the underground storage of fluid materials including those which are readily soluable or reactive with water or brine such as concentrated caustic soda, ethylene dichloride or anhydrous ammonia within chambers developed in salt formations via solution mining and from which essentially all the brine has been removed; and the chambers thereby produced. More particularly this invention relates to methods for making underground storage chambers; of recovering the brine formed in the making of the chamber; isolating the contaminants, i.e., the insolubles mixed with brine resulting from the solution mining of the storage chamber, such that fluids soluable or reactive with water or brine can be stored therein; and also to a method for controlling the velocity of free fall of materials injected into the chamber for storage, such that erosion of the equipment employed is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Texas Brine Corporation
    Inventors: Neal E. Van Fossan, John Rutherford
  • Patent number: 4459188
    Abstract: This invention relates to a new and novel brine system for use in electrolyzing salt to chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen in chlor-alkali cells employing an ion exchange membrane and, more particularly, to the efficient use of brine as the raw material to be electrolyzed in chlor-alkali membrane cells. This invention also relates to a process for the conversion of a diaphragm cell and evaporator plant to one employing membrane type cells while still utilizing the existing brine treatment and caustic evaporation equipment and the resultant plant installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Texas Brine Corporation
    Inventors: John Rutherford, Raymond W. Ver Hoeve
  • Patent number: 4147600
    Abstract: A method for economically producing a concentrated alkali metal hydroxide solution by electrolytic means is described. The method involves the tandem operation of diaphragm and membrane electrolytic cells. More particularly, the cell liquor from the diaphragm cell or cells is utilized in place of all or part of the water usually utilized in the catholyte compartment of the membrane cell or cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Assignee: Hooker Chemicals & Plastics Corp.
    Inventors: John Rutherford, Charles F. Eggers